Umaid Asif kept his cool as he conceded just five runs in last over to carve out first-ever win for Karachi Kings against Peshawar Zalmi in a high scoring thriller at National Stadium, Karachi Friday.

Needed sixteen to win in 20th over, Zalmi could reach 191 for seven as they were chasing a mammoth target of 202 runs in second match of the Pakistan Super League 2020.

It was first win for Karachi Kings over Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL as they always failed against Darren Sammy’s side during the previous editions.

Chris Jordan jolted Peshawar Zalmi early by taking two wickets in single over to derail their chase. Opener Kamran Akmal, however, continued to attack Karachi Kings bowlers and added 35 runs with Shoaib Malik for third wicket before Shoaib got him run out in a bizarre fashion in 9th over.

However, Kamran did not perturbed and attacked Kings bowler before getting deceived from a straight slow delivery of Cameron Delport after hitting 43 runs off just 26 balls in 10th over. He hit two sixes and five fours in his innings.

It seems all but over for Zalmi after Kamran’s departure but English batsman Liam Livingstone had other idea. He played a composed, quick innings to infuse new life into the contention and took his team to a winning distance.

He along with Zalmi’s captain Darren Sammy attacked all the death bowlers of Karachi Kings and mustered 18 runs off M Amir’s last over, which was 18th of the match to take his team close. Jordan gave away 14 runs in 19th over as Zalmi needed 16 off last over to win the match.

Umaid Asif was given the task by Imad to carve out a win and he kept his cool to keep both Livingstone and Sammy at bay by conceding just four runs in first three balls and then taking the prized scalp of danger man Sammy on the fourth delivery. Sammy scored 30 runs off 20 balls hitting one six and two fours.

Umaid completed the superb over by taking another wicket on last ball of the match when Wahab Riaz played the shot high in the air and wicket-keeper M Rizwan took a superb catch to complete the thrilling victory for the Karachi Kings, as Umaid finished with 2-23 in his four overs.

Livingstone remained unbeaten after scoring 54 runs off 29 balls with the help of three towering sixes and two boundaries but it was not enough for him take his team over the line.

Earlier, Pakistan T20 captain and world’s number one T20 player Babar Azam showed his class yet again as he hammered Peshawar Zalmi bowlers all around the ground to lay a solid foundation for Karachi Kings to put up a huge 201-4 total on the board.

Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to field first, a decision with which Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim was quite happy. Sharjeel Khan made his comeback in the Pakistan Super League for Karachi Kings after serving a fixing ban when he came to open with Babar.

But his comeback was cut short by Hasan Ali as Sharjeel was caught by Shoaib Malik after playing some lusty blows that showed he still have the same firepower in his rusty arms. He hit two sixes and a four before bowing out for 19 runs after playing 11 balls.

Cameron Delport also could not last long as he was bowled by Mohammad Mohsin after scoring 20 runs off 16 balls in ninth over. But Babar was the main man for Karachi Kings as he continued to score at a bristling pace. Karachi Kings captain Imad was next to come and Babar and Imad totally tilted the match in favour of Kings as Zalmi bowlers looked totally hapless infront of the formidable Pakistan duo.

Babar scored 78 runs off 56 deliveries before a Rahat Ali’s throw cut his innings short. He hit seven fours and two sixes. Imad was also brutal at Zalmi bowlers as he raced to his fifty in 29 balls and hit three sixes and as many fours in the process. But he also departed very next ball courtesy to Shoaib Malik’s catch off the bowling of Hasan.

Iftikhar Ahmed also continued his good form in white ball cricket as he remained not out after hitting two sixes and a four to muster 16 runs off three balls he faced. Chadwick Walton also remained unbeaten for 9 runs after facing six balls. He hit on boundary.

It was a nightmarish outing for Zalmi bowlers as all went for big hits and failed to impress. Hassan Ali took two wickets for 52 runs and Mohsin took one for 35.